Vice President Sara Duterte, July 18, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA – Congressmen denied on Wednesday the claim of Vice President Sara Duterte that there is a fresh impeachment plot against her at the House of Representatives.

“Hindi po totoo ‘yan,” OVP’s budget sponsor at the lower house and Lanao del Sur First District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said.

“I have heard talks of impeachment, but coming from her. We don’t hear it here in Congress. I can guarantee that,” 1RIDER party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez added.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro categorically refuted Duterte's claim that the Makabayan bloc held meetings with House Speaker Martin Romualdez regarding an impeachment move against the Vice President.

"Unang-una walang katotohanan na kami sa Makabayan bloc ay nakipagpulong kay House Speaker Romualdez para sa impeachment ni VP Duterte. Pangalawa, walang pahayag ang Makabayan bloc noong Setyembre 2023 na nagtutulak kami ng impeachment. Sa katunayan may pahayag pa nga kami noong Agosto at Nobyembre 2023, na nagsasabi na premature ang usapin sa impeachment," Castro said in a statement.

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In her August 2023 statement, Castro urged focus on the critical issue at hand, which involved the P125 million confidential fund of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in 2022. 

"VP Duterte should get her facts straight at hindi puro Marites ang source," she said.

"We ask that the OVP provide a detailed public accounting of how the P125 million was spent. We hoped that Vice President Sara Duterte will use the OVP budget hearing to personally clarify her position on this sensitive issue, but she just used squid tactics to avoid answering and even boycotted the hearing yesterday," Castro added.

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The lawmaker said the removal of the confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President's budget this year was both legitimate and necessary. 

“Despite claims to the contrary, the possibility of impeachment remains a logical consequence of the evident misuse of confidential funds. We reiterate that no legal framework permits such rapid expenditure without breaching established fiscal protocols,” Castro said.

“Vice President Duterte's dismissive response to the removal of her office's confidential funds only underscores the need for further scrutiny. Her narrative that she would continue to work regardless of budget limitations is a deflection from the core issue: adherence to legal and ethical standards in public office,” she added.

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POLITICAL SUICIDE?

An ally of the Dutertes, Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez said the rumors surrounding the alleged impeachment complaint against the Vice President Duterte were “deeply concerning… for the state of our democracy”. 

“This move is largely driven by petty political ambitions rather than genuine governance concerns. It reeks of an attempt to eliminate a perceived political rival rather than serving the interests of the Filipino people,” Alvarez said.

He noted that Duterte secured an "overwhelming electoral victory in 2022, with 32 million votes—more than the votes for President Marcos."

"To challenge this mandate through an impeachment, based on shallow political grounds, is a direct affront to the sovereign will of the people. It would be the height of recklessness for Congress to impeach a Vice President, who not only garnered the highest votes for any elected national official in the country's history but also currently enjoys net trust, approval, and satisfaction ratings higher than other government officials,” he added.

Alvarez said an impeachment move against the VP would be “political suicide for the administration” and “chaotic for the nation”. He added that an impeachment complaint would be a “betrayal of the administration’s campaign promise of unity”.

“I do not doubt the capability of the House of Representatives to impeach the Vice President. It is ultimately a numbers game. But the unintended consequences will be terrible. In effect, a body composed of around 300 representatives will decide to overrule the direct votes of 32 million Filipinos. The country risks descending into chaos if this reckless political move proceeds,” Alvarez said.

“It (impeachment) runs the risk of being viewed by certain sectors, including the 32 million voters of the Vice President, as triggering the Constitutional obligation of the military - similar to what happened in the 1986 Edsa Revolution - when the armed forces intervened in order to protect the people and the state. This is a dangerous path to tread, and one that would destabilize the nation further,” he added.